Dimension Data’s former manager Brian Smith has spoken of his potential devastation if the team lose their WorldTour licence due to not amassing enough points to stave off Bora-Hansgrohe and Bahrain Merida, two teams seeking to move to WorldTour level.

"The goal for Team Dimension Data was to get into the top 15 WorldTour teams. They're sitting 18th (last place), the last time I looked, and that's not comfortable," Smith told Cyclingnews.

Smith is hopeful that the UCI will allow 18 teams to ride in the top tier in 2017. Meanwhile, Dimension Data’s manager Doug Ryder has been in contact with the UCI to find out if this is possible.

"It's important to have a South African team in the WorldTour. I don't know what the UCI are going to do but they could keep it at 18 teams," Smith said.

Smith says the team has progressed every season, have developed African riders and brought new fans to the sport through the team’s partnership with charity Qhubeka.

"We built that team to be WorldTour and over the last few years it's really the only team that's moved forward," Smith said. "It's brought in fans, sponsors and new riders. For me it would be devastating if they weren't WorldTour. It's a whole continent you’ve got to remember but they fight for a good cause in Quebeka.”